Shadow toll contract

Introduction

The Northern Highway or AP-1[3] is a Spanish highway that currently has two sections: the one between Burgos and Armiñón (Álava) entered service in 1984, and is currently free;[4] and the section that begins in Echávarri-Viña, near Vitoria, and ends in Irún, entered service in 2009 and is tolled. From Éibar it joins the AP-8, maintaining the double name, and continues east towards Irún and the border with France.

Until 2018, the section between Burgos and Armiñón was paid, when the concession expired and the Pedro Sánchez government decided not to renew it and incorporate the section into the free public network.

History and description

The original project, from 1974, covered a highway that covered the route between Burgos and Málzaga (Éibar) in Guipúzcoa, but the concessionaire company only built the section from Burgos to the town of Armiñón, which covered an itinerary of 84.3 km and which has three tunnels of 1,314 m in total length, which overcome the greatest orographic difficulties of the route. This section, which entered service in 1984, ended its concession on November 30, 2018, and since then it has been a free, publicly owned highway.[4].

In the 90s, the provincial councils of Guipúzcoa and Álava agreed to carry out the construction of the part that was not originally carried out, and that runs entirely through the Basque Country. Between Éibar and Vitoria, the route reaches 46.2 km and fully entered service on May 22, 2009. Its management depends on these two public organizations.

Before 2003, and in accordance with the regulations of the time, the section between Burgos and Armiñón was called A-1.[4].

From November 2006 until its liberalization in December 2018, the Ameyugo-Miranda de Ebro-Armiñón section was exempt from tolls for internal transit.

On the AP-1 between Armiñón and Éibar there are two concessionaire companies: the one corresponding to the sections that run through Guipúzcoa is Bidegi - Agencia Guipuzcoana de Infraestructuras, while the concessionaire for the sections in Álava is Arabat (Arabako Bideak - Vías de Álava S.A.), dependent respectively on the Provincial Council of Guipúzcoa and the Provincial Council of Alava.

The port of Arlabán, which separates Álava from Guipúzcoa, is saved by the Isuzkiza tunnel. This tunnel has a length of 3415 m and a slope of 2%. It is the longest built in Basque territory. The maximum speed of circulation through it is 120 km/h and it is equipped with the most modern security systems. The following should be highlighted: 46 fans, 63 SOS posts, 247 speakers, 11 connection galleries between tubes, 81 TV control cameras, 142 variable signaling equipment. There is a linear fire detection system composed of a detector placed along the entire route of the infrastructure completed by intelligent video image analysis equipment. The fans are designed to extract smoke from fires that may occur. At each exit of the tunnels and every 150 meters there are emergency stations equipped with doors that can resist fire for two hours and connect both tubes of the tunnels.[5].

Shadow toll contract

Introduction

History and description

Before 2003, and in accordance with the regulations of the time, the section between Burgos and Armiñón was called A-1.[4].

From November 2006 until its liberalization in December 2018, the Ameyugo-Miranda de Ebro-Armiñón section was exempt from tolls for internal transit.

Concession validity

Like the other highways in Spain, an operating period was determined for the AP-1 concession. Subsequently, and for the reasons listed below, this period has been successively extended.

The history of the infrastructure begins with a series of problems that the project had to overcome in its first years when its name was Burgos-Málzaga.

-The delay in entry into operation leads the State to grant the first of the extensions.

-new dates and conditions are set.

-Two of the initially planned sections in the territory of the Basque Country are suspended and modified.

-The concession period is extended by the government chaired by Calvo-Sotelo

-rates are modified

-a financial plan is established that extends until 1996.

Review of the tariff system. Renegotiations in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

-the sections initially planned and not executed are segregated

-The only section in operation covered by the project remains the one that runs through Burgos territory.

-technical improvements are fixed on the highway

-A rate discount formula of around 50% is included that only applies to truck traffic.

-An extension of exploitation, approved by the government chaired by Felipe González, of fourteen years is added to those already accumulated.

-a discount is established for cars and buses

-A formula is established for the State to pay the concessionaire a compensatory amount, approved by the government chaired by José María Aznar. (according to official data, in 2005 the contribution amounted to 4.2 million euros).

-The concessionaire assumes the expansion work with a third lane between Ameyugo and Miranda

-The toll is released for internal transit between the two aforementioned toll stations.

-A new extension of the exploitation period is set, approved by the government chaired by Rodríguez Zapatero.

Thus, the forecasts of the concession were met, which was finally extended until 2018, meaning the highway has been in private hands for 44 years, when the initial forecast was 20 years.

Concession validity

Like the other highways in Spain, an operating period was determined for the AP-1 concession. Subsequently, and for the reasons listed below, this period has been successively extended.

The history of the infrastructure begins with a series of problems that the project had to overcome in its first years when its name was Burgos-Málzaga.

-The delay in entry into operation leads the State to grant the first of the extensions.

-new dates and conditions are set.

-Two of the initially planned sections in the territory of the Basque Country are suspended and modified.

-The concession period is extended by the government chaired by Calvo-Sotelo

-rates are modified

-a financial plan is established that extends until 1996.

Review of the tariff system. Renegotiations in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

-the sections initially planned and not executed are segregated

-The only section in operation covered by the project remains the one that runs through Burgos territory.

-technical improvements are fixed on the highway

-A rate discount formula of around 50% is included that only applies to truck traffic.

-An extension of exploitation, approved by the government chaired by Felipe González, of fourteen years is added to those already accumulated.

-a discount is established for cars and buses

-The concessionaire assumes the expansion work with a third lane between Ameyugo and Miranda

-The toll is released for internal transit between the two aforementioned toll stations.

-A new extension of the exploitation period is set, approved by the government chaired by Rodríguez Zapatero.

Thus, the forecasts of the concession were met, which was finally extended until 2018, meaning the highway has been in private hands for 44 years, when the initial forecast was 20 years.

Navegación

Shadow toll contract

Introduction

History and description

Shadow toll contract

Introduction

History and description

Concession validity

Sections

Castañares (Burgos) - Armiñón section (toll-free)

References

Concession validity

Sections

Castañares (Burgos) - Armiñón section (toll-free)

References